Spike-puller



(No Model.)

B. S. HORTON.

SPIKE FULLER.

No. 892,920. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

NITE STATES BENJAMIN S. HORTON, OF VERMILLION, OHIO.

SPlKE-PULLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392.920, dated November 13, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN S. HORTON, of Vermillion, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Spike-Pullers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device intended more particularly for pulling heavy spikes and nails of a character which cannot be extracted by ordinary handtools.

It is the particular aim of the invention to provide a powerful instrument, by means of which long and heavy spikessueh as are used in railway and marine works-may be withdrawn speedily without mutilation of thewood and without being bent or otherwise injured.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View illustrating my device in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the grasping or extracting jaws, their lower ends being shown in section and their upper ends shown in connection with the bar or lever by which they are operated.

Fig. 3 is aface view illustrating the extractingjaws in modified form. Fig. 4. is a face view of the fulcrum-block in modified form.

My complete device comprises a pair of grasping or extracting jaws, A, a wedge, B, for separating their upper ends and holding them in engagement with the spike until the operating-lever is brought into play, a bar or lever, O, for lifting thejaws, and a support or fulcrum, D, upon which the bar is rested.

The grasping device A consists of two upright jaws or levers, c, pivotally connected midway of their length, or there-about, and suitably recessed and otherwise formed at thelower ends to admit of their being driven slightly into the wood to grasp the head of the spike between them. They are preferably connected by means of two cross-links, a, and pivots n. passed through the links and jaws, as shown; but it is to be understood that any equivalent pivotal connection may be employed. At the upper end the jaws are beveled on their inner opposing faces, as shown at a, whereby they are adapted to'be separated by the insertion of the wedge, which acts to close their lower ends together upon the spike. The provision of this wedge is of importance, since it is difficult to cause the jaws to engage under the heads of the spikes deeply driven into hard wood, and necessary to secure them when thus engaged until the actuating'lever is placed in position. The wedge serves the double purpose, when driven home by a sledge, of cansing the jaws to pass under and engage beneath the head and of locking the device in place in an upright position while the lever and fillcrum are being adjusted in place.

Below the beveled faces a the inner edges of the jaws a are inclined or beveled toward each other in an upward direction, to the end that the operating-lever acting between them may separate their upper ends and maintain their hold upon the spike. Shoulders a are formed on the inner edges to engage on top of the op crating-lever when in action. These shoulders serve the double purpose of giving afirm and solid bearing for the lever, so that it may positively lift the clamp, and of preventing thelever from closing the jaws to such extent as to pinch off the head of the spike.

The part 13 consists simply of a metal wedge adapted to be driven temporarily between the upper ends of the jaws, and having a suitable handle, I), by which it may be presented in operative position to be driven to its place.

The lever O is made of steel or other suitable metal, and. may be of any appropriate form-- an ordinary steel crow-bar or handspike answering an excellent purpose.

The support D is preferably made, as shown, in the form of a block with a series of steps or faces, (1 d, &c., at different levels to receive the lever.

In making use of my device the block D is seated upon the tie, plank, or other surface containing the spike and adjacent to the latter. The extracting device A is then placed in an upright position, with one of its jaws on each side of the spike, and by means of a hammer or maul driven down until its ends are below the head of the spike, after which the wedge B is driven tightly between the jaws in order to maintain the engagement of their lower ends with the head. The parts being in this position, the lever G is seated on the fulcrum-block and its end inserted between the upper ends of the two jaws. The outer end of the lever is now depressed, whereby its lower end is caused to rise between the faces ICO ' the spike.

The wedge B is used only to hold the jaws in position until the lever is applied thereto. It is to be noted that in the operation of my device the spike may be drawn in a practically straight line and in the direction of its axis.

In the drawing of railway and marine spikes, which are frequently of a length of from six to twelve inches, this is an important feature, since it prevents the mutilation of the wood and leaves the spikes in condition to be used agaln.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a modified construction of thejaws, the link a being in this case omitted and the jaws provided with, overlapping ears which are directly connected by the pivot a In Fig. at I have illustrated a modified form of the support or'fulcrum-block of the lever. In this form the block is provided with a vertical slot or opening having a series of shoulders, dd, &c., to support the lever.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a spike-puller, the combination, with an operating-lever, of two extracting-jaws, a a, pivotally connected midway of their length, their lower ends adapted, as described, to engage beneath the head of a spike, and their upper ends provided with the opposing inclined faces a and the shoulders a whereby theintermediate lever is caused to hold the jaws in engagement, enabled to lift them with a positive action, and is prevented from closing them beyond the proper limit.

2. The spike-extractor consisting of two pivotallyconnected clampingjaws adapted at their lower ends to grasp a spike and provided at theirupper ends with shoulders a, the wedge B, to cause the initial engagement of the jaws and retain them in position until the lever is applied, and the detachable lever and its ful crum, said elements adapted, as described, for conjoint use.

In testimony wh ereof I hereunto set my hand, this 19th day of January, 1888, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

BENJAMIN S. HORTON.

Witnesses:

W. R. KENNEDY, ANDREW PARKER. 

